Therapeutic area

IFNα-5

Interferon alfa (IFNα) is a cytokine which belongs to the interferon type I family that encompasses 21 different subtypes characterized by their potent antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects. There are several different commercialized IFNα, mainly for the treatment of hepatitis virus C and B infection as well as certain types of tumours. NAHE001 is an IFNα subtype, IFNα-5 is naturally produced in the liver of healthy persons and its levels are decreased in patients with chronic infection by the hepatitis C virus. The experiments performed to this date suggest that in the spite of sharing a single receptor, IFNα-5 differs from IFNα-2 in the biological effect produced in cells of hepatic origin, and in fact IFNα-5 induces a more intense signal and a higher expression of genes related to the antiviral response than IFNα-2. These preliminary data constitute the basis on which DIGNA Biotech has planed a complete preclinical development that would allow the beginning of clinical studies to assess its role in the treatment of hepatitis C.

Although the mechanisms that lead to the onset of HVB and HVB infection and the development of liver damage are not well known, there are data which suggest that infection by these viruses produces direct cytopathic damage and immune cell damage. Some evidence suggests that the alteration of the IFN system may be implicated in the chronification of the HCV infection.

IFN-α5 (NAHE001) is the IFN-α subtype naturally produced in the liver. It has been proven that HCV infection is associated to low levels of IFN-α5 messenger RNA levels, which could be interpreted as an escape mechanism for the virus.
The experiments conducted to date suggest that the interaction of the IFN-α5 and IFN-α2 subtypes with receptor type I may occur in a different manner and this affects the expression intensity of the antiviral genes. Our data shows that in the liver cells, IFN-α5 induces a stronger signal and a greater expression of genes related to the antiviral response than IFN-α2. Moreover, the results suggest that it may be of interest to study the synergies among both types of IFN, with the purpose of evaluating, not only the results of the efficacy of this interaction, but also its safety profile. These preliminary data have provided the basis to initiate a more complete preclinical development programme that should yield additional information for an evaluation of the efficacy of IFN-α5 in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis.